for · the · sake · of · a · single · verse

“The honor of the political leader, of the leading statesman, however, lies precisely in an exclusive personal responsibility for what he does, a responsibility he cannot and must not reject or transfer. It is in the nature of officials of high moral standing to be poor politicians, and above all, in the political sense of the word, to be irresponsible politicians.” – Max Weber, Politics As A Vocation

And there you have it, folks. The difference between Eddard Stark and Roose Bolton, theorized and formulated long before George R.R. Martin was a squalling baby. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of Winterfell!